Height adjusting mechanism for a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser

ABSTRACT

A pedal exerciser includes a base having a coupling tube extending substantially vertically from a bottom of the base. The coupling tube includes a coupling hole and a first notch extending vertically and in communication with the coupling hole. A pedaling device includes a column having a rack. The column is received in the coupling hole of the base. The rack is received in the first notch and has a toothed portion extending outside of the first notch. A height adjusting mechanism includes a motor and a reduction gear box having an output shaft driven by the motor. A transmission gear is mounted on the output shaft and meshes with the toothed portion of the rack. The motor is operable to drive the output shaft to move the rack in a vertical direction via the transmission gear, adjusting a height of the pedaling device in the vertical direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a height adjusting mechanism for a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser and, more particularly, to a height adjusting mechanism for automatically adjusting a vertical position of a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser to provide convenient adjustment and enhanced utility.

Indoor exercisers are popular in modem societies by providing exercising effects without going to the outside. The exercisers also provide rehabilitation functions for patients or people having difficulty in getting about.

A pedal exerciser generally includes a pedaling device providing a pedaling function like a bicycle and a mat on which a user can sit or lie while proceeding with pedaling with his or her hands or legs. However, adjustment of the height of the pedaling device is inconvenient to the user and is difficult to patients or people having difficulty getting about.

Some of currently available pedal devices allow adjustment in the resistance to rotational movement by using magnetic control or a damping mechanism. The damping mechanism increases the overall weights of the pedaling devices and increases the difficulty of height adjustment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a height adjusting mechanism for automatically adjusting a vertical position of a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser to provide convenient adjustment and enhanced utility.

A pedal exerciser according to the present invention includes a base adapted to be located on a ground. The base includes a coupling tube extending substantially vertically from a bottom of the base. The coupling tube includes a coupling hole and a first notch extending vertically and in communication with the coupling hole. A pedaling device includes a column on a lower portion thereof. The column includes a rack having a toothed portion. The column is received in the coupling hole of the base. The rack is received in the first notch. The toothed portion extends outside of the first notch. The pedaling device is adapted to be rotated by legs or hands or a user. A height adjusting mechanism includes a motor. The motor is adapted to be controlled by a controller. The height adjusting mechanism further includes a reduction gear box having an output shaft driven by the motor. A transmission gear is mounted on the output shaft and meshes with the toothed portion of the rack. The motor is operable to drive the output shaft to move the rack in a vertical direction via the transmission gear, adjusting a height of the pedaling device in the vertical direction.

In a form shown, the base includes a seat on a rear end thereof. The height adjusting mechanism further includes a sleeve and a coupling seat. The sleeve has a bottom portion received in the coupling hole of the base. The column is received in the sleeve. The sleeve has a second notch receiving the rack. The coupling seat is mounted around an upper portion of the sleeve. The coupling seat includes a coupling section coupled with the reduction gear box. The coupling section includes a compartment rotatably receiving the transmission gear. The compartment includes an opening facing the second notch. The column of the pedaling device extends through the sleeve and the coupling hole of the coupling tube of the seat. The transmission gear meshes with the rack via the opening of the compartment.

In the form shown, the coupling seat further includes a third notch. The coupling seat further includes a first tightening bolt hole in a location corresponding to the opening of the compartment and a second tightening bolt hole in a location corresponding to the third notch. First and second tightening bolts are mounted in the first and second tightening bolt holes.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a height adjusting mechanism for a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the height adjusting mechanism of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pedal exerciser including the height adjusting mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along section line B-B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the height adjusting mechanism of FIG. 2, with a pedaling device in a lower position.

FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 6, with the pedaling device in an upper position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a pedal exerciser according to the present invention includes a base 1, a pedaling device 2, and a height adjusting mechanism 3. The base 1 is adapted to be located on the ground. The base 1 includes a seat 11 on a rear end thereof. A user can sit or lie on the seat 11 while using the pedal exerciser. An engagement portion 12 is provided in front of the seat 11 and includes a coupling tube 13 extending substantially vertically from a bottom of the base 1. The coupling tube 13 can be fixed to the base 1 or adjustable to change a relative angular position between the coupling tube 13 and the base 1. The coupling tube 13 includes a coupling hole 131 and a first notch 132 extending vertically and in communication with the coupling hole 131.

The pedaling device 2 is adapted to be rotated by legs or hands or the user. The pedaling device 2 includes a column 21 on a lower portion thereof. The column 21 includes a rack 22 having a toothed portion 221. The column 21 is received in the coupling hole 131 of the base 1. The rack 22 is received in the first notch 132, and the toothed portion 221 extends outside of the first notch 132.

The height adjusting mechanism 3 includes a motor 31, a sleeve 32, and a coupling seat 33. The motor 31 is adapted to be controlled by a controller. The height adjusting mechanism 3 further includes a reduction gear box 311 having an output shaft 312 driven by a rotating shaft of the motor 31. A transmission gear 313 is mounted on the output shaft 312 and meshes with the toothed portion 221 of the rack 22. The sleeve 32 receives the column 21 and has a bottom portion received in the coupling hole 131 of the base 1. The sleeve 32 further has a second notch 321 receiving the rack 22. The coupling seat 33 is mounted around an upper portion of the sleeve 32. The coupling seat 33 includes a coupling section 330 coupled with the reduction gear box 311. The coupling section 330 includes a compartment 331 having an opening 3311 facing the second notch 321. Transmission gear 313 is rotatably received in the compartment 331. The coupling seat 33 further includes a third notch 332. The coupling seat 33 further includes a first tightening bolt hole 333 in a location corresponding to the opening 3311 of the compartment 331 and a second tightening bolt hole 334 in a location corresponding to the third notch 332. First and second tightening bolts 335 and 336 are mounted in the first and second tightening bolt holes 333 and 334.

The column 21 of the pedaling device 2 is extended through the sleeve 32 and the coupling hole 131 of the coupling tube 13 of the seat 1. The transmission gear 313 meshes with the rack 22 via the opening 3311 of the compartment 331.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the motor 31 is operable to drive the output shaft 312 to move the rack 22 in a vertical direction via the transmission gear 313. Thus, the pedaling device 2 is moved in the vertical direction, providing convenient adjustment of a height of the pedaling device 2 in the vertical direction. After adjustment, the first and second tightening bolts 335 and 336 can be rotated such that the sleeve 32 clamps and tightens the column 21. The second and third notches 321 and 332 and the opening 3311 of the compartment 331 provides room for deformation of the sleeve 32 clamping the column 21, providing reliable positioning.

The pedal exerciser according to the present invention allows easy adjustment of the height of the pedal device 2 by providing the height adjusting mechanism 3, which is suitable for patients or weak users. The motor 31 can be mounted to a side of the column 21 through other provisions with the transmission gear 313 meshed with the rack 22.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims. 

1. A pedal exerciser comprising: a base adapted to be located on a ground, with the base including a coupling tube extending substantially vertically from a bottom of the base, with the coupling tube including a coupling hole and a first notch extending vertically and in communication with the coupling hole; a pedaling device adapted to be rotated by legs or hands or a user, with the pedaling device including a column on a lower portion thereof, with the column including a rack having a toothed portion, with the column received in the coupling hole of the base, with the rack received in the first notch, with the toothed portion extended outside of the first notch; a height adjusting mechanism including a motor, with the motor adapted to be controlled by a controller, with the height adjusting mechanism further including a reduction gear box having an output shaft driven by the motor, with a transmission gear mounted on the output shaft and meshed with the toothed portion of the rack, with the motor operable to drive the output shaft to move the rack in a vertical direction via the transmission gear, adjusting a height of the pedaling device in the vertical direction.
 2. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim 1, with the base including a seat on a rear end thereof, with the height adjusting mechanism further including a sleeve and a coupling seat, with the sleeve having a bottom portion received in the coupling hole of the base, with the column received in the sleeve, with the sleeve having a second notch, with the rack received in the second notch, with the coupling seat mounted around an upper portion of the sleeve, with the coupling seat including a coupling section coupled with the reduction gear box, with the coupling section including a compartment, with the transmission gear rotatably received in the compartment, with the compartment including an opening facing the second notch, with the column of the pedaling device extending through the sleeve and the coupling hole of the coupling tube of the seat, with the transmission gear meshed with the rack via the opening of the compartment.
 3. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim 1, with the coupling seat further including a third notch, with the coupling seat further including a first tightening bolt hole in a location corresponding to the opening of the compartment and a second tightening bolt hole in a location corresponding to the third notch, with first and second tightening bolts mounted in the first and second tightening bolt holes. 